454 woes

RonS1985 · 07-18-2011, 09:00 PM

Hi everyone! The wife and I were heading to Pa to enjoy and overnighter this past weekend. I had just replaced my plug wires and was enjoying the feeling of power and the engine not sputtering when suddenly the old girl began overheating. I quickly pulled over and shut it off. We had only made it about 23 miles so we got a tow back to the house. The next day I looked it over real well and found out that the "smog pump" pulley had frozen, thus throwing the belt. I have one ordered and should arrive in time to try again this coming weekend. I know why the smog pump was put into service but I don't know what it really does- or is supposed to do. I've asked around and the basic answer is, "nothing!" Does anyone here know what it really does? I don't get emissions testing because of the age so I know I don't need it. I had to pay $71 just so my belt has a pulley to lay on to turn the other important stuff. Seems like such a waste to me. Thanks.

ahicks · 07-19-2011, 06:39 AM

I might be tempted to dump the smog pump, but that can be quite a project. The bigger piece is plugging all of the lines going to the exhaust manifolds - unless you were going to replace those for whatever reason. THEN it would become a pretty attractive option?

grumpy14 · 07-19-2011, 07:05 AM

I have 89 Bounder 454--removed all hoses and vacum lines on smog control --removed vacum cans under front wheel, pluged lines into headers,more power-this was first attempt at smog control,not to good,you will need a shorter belt almost 60# taken off of motor home,took two pumps off of engine, back to early style engine.

Senior Chief · 07-19-2011, 08:32 AM

We also did what Grumpy14 did on our '89 Southwind. Just remove all that stuff.

Airtool · 07-19-2011, 08:40 AM

The pump just adds air into the exhaust system to reduce the concentration of the different gases produced. The tailpipe numbers go down and it passed the emission tests of the day.

Dick.

Ragingbull · 07-19-2011, 10:49 AM

I've removed all smog equipment from my 84 Chieftain. Its won't need a smog test here in Texas.

bigskymt · 07-19-2011, 03:57 PM

The A.I.R. pump was designed to inject fresh air into the exhaust chamber and cause fuller combustion of any unburned gasses.
Removing the pump, air and vacuum lines is easy.The tubes to the exhaust manifolds can be removed and plugged. I think they are either 1/4" or 3/8" pipe thread.
The vacuum lines to the fuel tank cannisters have no affect on performance. Nor does the EGR valve.
Federal Law prohibits removal of any emission control devices.

vman60 · 07-19-2011, 07:02 PM

Bottom line fom every mechanic I talked to is that its best to keep them mainly because you don't want any fumes being emmitted back into the coach and your pump solves that problem. My understanding through a friend of mine for both pumps its only around $400 for both pumps. maybe less depending where you look.

Billieg · 07-19-2011, 07:30 PM

If you can afford it or if you like a lot of pain take them out. They are useless and rob HP.

Senior Chief · 07-19-2011, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vman60

Bottom line fom every mechanic I talked to is that its best to keep them mainly because you don't want any fumes being emmitted back into the coach and your pump solves that problem. My understanding through a friend of mine for both pumps its only around $400 for both pumps. maybe less depending where you look.

Exhaust fumes in the coach is neither more or less likely because you've removed and capped all the emissions stuff.

You only get exhaust fumes if you have an issue with headers, gaskets or exhaust pipes.

GOLDWINGER2 · 07-19-2011, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vman60

Bottom line fom every mechanic I talked to is that its best to keep them mainly because you don't want any fumes being emmitted back into the coach and your pump solves that problem. My understanding through a friend of mine for both pumps its only around $400 for both pumps. maybe less depending where you look.

The system has check valves that prevent fumes from going back to the pump. If you take of the hoses and keep the check valves in tack the fumes won't escape.
J

GOLDWINGER2 · 07-19-2011, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senior Chief

Exhaust fumes in the coach is neither more or less likely because you've removed and capped all the emissions stuff.

You only get exhaust fumes if you have an issue with headers, gaskets or exhaust pipes.

The biggest HP thieves are really the cams and the distributors. Get the dist re-curved and wake up that big block and pick up some mpg's.
J

RonS1985 · 07-20-2011, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahicks

I might be tempted to dump the smog pump, but that can be quite a project. The bigger piece is plugging all of the lines going to the exhaust manifolds - unless you were going to replace those for whatever reason. THEN it would become a pretty attractive option?

I am very tempted to delete the pump but I would have to put something in it's place. I still need a pulley there for the belt to work.